BGMC Provides Water for Africa

By Mary Boyd, BGMC coordinator/BGMC

Water. We drink it every day, and we take for granted that
in America we can have water any time and anywhere. When we look at a map of
the world, we see that 97 percent of the world is saltwater. It gives the
illusion that there is plenty of water in the world. Yet if all of the world's
drinkable water were put into a bucket, only one teaspoon would be drinkable.1 Water is so important. A person can live weeks without food, but only days
without water.

According to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), more
than 1 billion people - about one in six people in this world - have no access
to clean and safe drinking water. The effects of unclean water often lead to an
endless cycle of poverty, conflict, disease and death.2

Women and children are most affected by the lack of clean
water. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 5,000 children die
every day as a result of diseases caused by unclean water. That's 1.8 million
children a year or one death every eight seconds. The WHO also states that roughly
90 percent of water-related diseases are because of unsafe water.

The water crisis is especially felt in Africa. Africa is considered
one of the most water-impoverished regions in the world. The lack of clean
water in Africa is considered a "global crisis."3 Africa has about 9
percent of the world's water resources but 13 percent of the world's
population. This means that the amount of water for each person is well below
the world average and often at great distance from the people. Africa's women
and children are often obligated to use large segments of their time and energy
daily in hauling water. 4

Assemblies of God World Missions is responding to the water
crisis. They have created an organization called the "Africa Oasis Project"
(AOP). BGMC is partnering with AOP to help provide money for water wells and
providing portable drilling rigs to drill for water. Each water well is drilled
by an Assemblies of God church or an Assemblies of God Bible School. This way,
the people in the village come to the church or Bible school to receive the
water. The pastor and school administrator can also take care of the well and
protect it. As people come for water, we are then able to share about the
"Living Water-Jesus" with them. It has become a great evangelism opportunity,
especially in areas where Christianity is not welcomed. In 2008, BGMC provided
the funds for several water wells in Africa and several portable drills that
can be towed behind a vehicle. When able, a full-fledged water well is
installed. But many times there are areas where drilling equipment cannot get
to. In those cases, portable drills are needed.

To also help with the water situation, BGMC is providing
"Buddy Buckets" (water buckets) to people all over Africa. Our missionaries
observed that women and children were using any kind of old, dirty container
for water. Some containers were old oil and gas cans. People could not afford
new, clean buckets. BGMC was asked to provide buckets so we created "Buddy
Buckets." (See above photo.) The missionaries tell us that the people are so thrilled
to receive these.

None of this would be possible without you! All the
sacrifices you make, the time that you give, and the inspiration that you
provide the kids is making a difference around the world. Every penny that goes
to missions is used to reach the world for Jesus! Thank you for providing the
"Living Water" for Africa. For more information about the Africa Oasis Project,
go to www.africaoasisproject.org.